Overview
- Malukas was leading late at Milwaukee when his car momentarily bogged on a restart because of a plenum-related intake/ignition disturbance, allowing Pato O’Ward to pass and take the victory.
- He publicly blamed Chevrolet on the radio after the race, saying the manufacturer had “let us down” by leaving drivers vulnerable to recurring plenum events.
- Malukas later posted an apology on social media calling his remarks “childish,” and he replied to fans that no one forced him to retract his comments.
- Plenum events briefly kill engine output until a driver lifts off the throttle, a fault Chevrolet-powered cars have suffered before and one that teams and the manufacturer now need to confirm is fixed.
- The episode leaves Malukas still seeking his first IndyCar win after multiple runner-up finishes this season and adds pressure on Chevrolet, Team Penske, and the driver as the championship heads into its final race.